MLS, players still at odds on CWC compensation

The discussions betwixt MLS and the MLS Players Association implicit the Club World Cup prize wealth and subordinate compensation stay ongoing, with the 2 sides failing to hold truthful acold connected presumption successful a recently revised conception of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Seattle Sounders FC players archetypal brought the contented to the forefront with a protest successful beforehand of fans astatine Lumen Field past Sunday by wearing shirts that work "Club World Cash Grab" and "Fair Share Now." The MLSPA initially released a connection successful enactment of the players' actions, arsenic the 2 parties demanded a just stock of the FIFA Club World Cup prize wealth the squad secured erstwhile qualifying for the planetary tournament.

The archetypal CBA stated that players person 50% of wealth from extracurricular tournaments with a headdress of $1 million. A root with cognition of the discussions told ESPN that a revised connection from MLS committed to assistance players connected the 3 participating teams 20% of the performance-related payments for wins, draws and circular advancement.

Players collectively would person $1 cardinal for participation, successful summation to immoderate wealth earned for victories, draws oregon circular qualification passim the tournament. Separately, LAFC earned $250,000 collectively for the triumph against Club America successful a playoff past Saturday to unafraid a spot successful the tournament.

The MLSPA received the connection connected Friday, June 6. A root with cognition of the discussions added the MLSPA demanded a larger percentage, but has not formally responded to the league's proposal.

In a statement, however, the Players Association called the actions taken by MLS arsenic "retaliatory" and unsatisfactory.

"The timing, substance, and retaliatory quality of the connection sends a wide message: MLS does not respect oregon worth players' efforts with respect to this tournament. Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are profoundly disappointed by this message," said the MLSPA successful a statement.

"MLS's refusal to negociate successful bully religion has created a large distraction for the players who should beryllium focusing connected preparing for a large planetary competition. However, players volition not beryllium silenced by threats from MLS. The players stay agreed successful utilizing their corporate dependable and demanding a just stock of the rewards earned from their hard work."

The enactment aboriginal added that MLS introduced "back-end compensation of 20%, an magnitude that remains beneath the planetary standard" and "did not adhd a azygous dollar for players from the $28,650,000 windfall that MLS volition beryllium paid by FIFA." According to MLSPA, "the players' stock of that magnitude remains astatine hardly 10%."

As of close now, the 2 sides person yet to hold connected caller terms, making the existent CBA the standard.

LAFC, Inter Miami CF and the Seattle Sounders volition vie successful the Club World Cup starting connected June 14 and moving done July 13.

ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.